BCD160DN/BCD260DN: Is this a new Uniden model? BCD260DN

[Remon]

I wouldn't recommend hooking the BCD160DN up to an external antenna. My situation when the scanner is connected to a Diamond X30 mounted in the attic (3 story house):

While listening to a nearby canal's (ship) lock on 161.6000 (strong signal) I can hear an ever stronger FLEX paging signal (169.6500) mixed through the audio. Same paging signal can be heard on 121.5000.

Last night I heard a radiosonde transmitting on 403.9000 at 456.3500 (if I recall correctly). I expected it to be overhead or something. But the balloon was just released from the national meteorological institute about 10 miles away.

It all reminds me of the BCT15X which I once had before for a short while. That scanner also could't handle strong nearby signals. Not only I'm close to multiple pager towers (that all transmit at the same time), there's also a 1200 ft tall broadcast tower less than 2 miles away with even more paging, FM, DAB, DVB etc. With both the BCT15X and the BCD160DN I constantly have 2 bars of noise on the signal meter when the squelch is set to 0. This only applies when connected to an external antenna.

With the original antenna or the Diamond RH-771 or the Nagoya NA-666 I don't experience any problems.

 

[Ubbe]

Designing portable scanners are a balance between RF performance and how much power you can take from the battery. They usually design the front end and mixer using as little power as possible but that will then make it more sensitive to overload and intermod issues.

There where a Swedish company doing a whole range of mobile scanners and one model where a bit too sensitive to overload. In their upgraded model they had replaced the tiny plastic transistor in the mixer with a much bigger metal can power transistor that they then drove much higher current thru. That made it immun to any kind of overload issues. It seems that Uniden wanted the battery in BCD160DN to last longer but stepped over the line where overload sets in.

/Ubbe

 

[ka3jjz]

Wish someone would put together wiki pages on these 2 newbies....just sayin'

Mike

 

[Bob1955]

Designing portable scanners are a balance between RF performance and how much power you can take from the battery. They usually design the front end and mixer using as little power as possible but that will then make it more sensitive to overload and intermod issues.

There where a Swedish company doing a whole range of mobile scanners and one model where a bit too sensitive to overload. In their upgraded model they had replaced the tiny plastic transistor in the mixer with a much bigger metal can power transistor that they then drove much higher current thru. That made it immun to any kind of overload issues. It seems that Uniden wanted the battery in BCD160DN to last longer but stepped over the line where overload sets in.

/Ubbe

Ubbe- Very well written.
I feel that the Bearcat BC125AT is still the BEST analog/conventional handheld scanner out there as long as you don't use the cheap Chinese batteries it comes with and purchase Panasonic Enloop batteries and charge them up outside of this scanner.
Your thoughts?

 

[buddrousa]

You have a pair of Moderators that had them longer than anyone else I am sure they know more about them than us.

 

[KevinC]

You have a pair of Moderators that had them longer than anyone else I am sure they know more about them than us.

I know @N9JIG had them, who is the other moderator?

 

[buddrousa]

Was it not the mod from Ohio that always gets the Uniden Demos?

 

[KevinC]

Was it not the mod from Ohio that always gets the Uniden Demos?

Don’t know.

 

[buddrousa]

Kevin I may be mistaken but I thought when the official announcement was made he was listed also. But as I said I may be mistaken.

 

[mondaro]

I received my radio from Bearcat Warehouse BC260DN on Friday and had the weekend to set it up and program it.
Note if using the software " Rember to unlock " all the channels they will be in white while a red line means that
that the channel is locked out, why it's constructed that who knows, also if the software is having a hard time
not seeing the radio just repeat the steps again and should work for you, Those who noted on the using an
outside antenna are correct on receiving, I was very disappointed in the receive outside of my immediate area
not very good. Hope his helps those wanting this radio save a few more dollars on go with the SDS-200
you will be happier at the end of the day !!

 

[dannysale]

The other night my BC260DN quit picking up anything until I powered it off and powered it back on. First time I've ever had to power cycle a scanner.

 

[buddrousa]

My BCD260DN has been on from the day I unpacked it only time it was rebooted was when I changed the programming

 

[W2GLD]

The other night my BC260DN quit picking up anything until I powered it off and powered it back on. First time I've ever had to power cycle a scanner.

Same thing happens to me, generally when the AM aircraft squelch hangs; yet another reason I am returning this to Uniden.

 

[SIMcard]

With the reports of various receiving issues with the bcd160dn I wonder if anyone has compared it to a bcd325p2, especially on NXDN & DMR?

 

[buddrousa]

Yes I did and posted it in this thread not hard to find it.

 

[SIMcard]

Yes I did and posted it in this thread not hard to find it.

Thank you for the heads up; appreciate your input on how these models compare and also the reception info depending on local rf environment.

 

[TwoKings]

Yes I did and posted it in this thread not hard to find it.

Thanks for your posts, they have been really helpful.

 

[Remon]

I'm going to sell or return my BCD160DN because of front-end overload issues. I already bought a Whistler TRX-1 as a replacement.

 

[Remon]

I'm going to sell or return my BCD160DN because of front-end overload issues. I already bought a Whistler TRX-1 as a replacement.

Now trying the embrace the BCD160DN again, because the TRX-1 purchase was a massive fail. While peeling off the protective film the entire front panel came off too.. Also lots of dried out glue or something that looks like it behind the glass..

 

[buddrousa]

The trx has a wide front end also